thoughts on food, culture, and community

Friday Photo: Pennsylvania crab shack

Fairfield, Pennsylvania, August 2011

So, I know I grew up eating liver ‘n onions, Central-PA proud, but I’ve still never seen crabs served on a cafeteria tray before Dave & Jane’s Crabhouse in Fairfield, PA. For $36.95 a person, enjoy all-you-can-eat crabs, Alaskan crab clusters, and steamed shrimp along with salad, soup, hush puppies, and broasted chicken if you think you have room, which I did not.

If the sound of your mallet-whacking, crab-cracking, seafood-slurping neighbors aren’t enough to break the atmosphere, you also won’t be bothered by this restaurant’s fluorescent lights, Styrofoam tableware, and tables covered with brown paper that can be easily removed, along with your mess, once you leave. As you wander out, delusionally full with seafood, you will undoubtedly be surprised to see green rolling hills around the parking lot and not crashing waves about some dark ship’s hull.